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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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C-drama Lost You Forever Part 2 May Get Shortened to 21 Episodes and Also Need to Wait 12 Months to Air

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 4, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 4, 2023
Two figures in traditional attire near water.

Watching dramas for too long has turned me into Xiao Yao from Lost You Forever, rather than be disappointed I choose not expect anything or get my hopes up. Which is why I was even happier with how good LYF the drama adaptation has been, and knowing it was filmed for 73 episodes split into Part 1 with 39 episodes … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Lost You Forever

Jeon Jong Seo Becomes Empress Woo for New Sageuk at Script Reading with Leading Men Kim Moo Yeol, Ji Chang Wook, and Lee Soo Hyuk

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 4, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 4, 2023
Group of people in a discussion meeting.

Filming has kicked up for what seems like a serious and darker sageuk drama Empress Woo (Queen Woo) and interestingly enough its purely a streaming drama airing on TVING. The drama stars primarily movie actress Jeon Jong Seo in her first sageuk role as the titular character with male leads Kim Moo Yeol, Ji Chang Wook, and Lee Soo Hyuk. … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Empress Woo, Jeon Jong Seo, Ji Chang Wook, Kim Moo Yeol, Lee Soo Hyuk, Queen Woo

Rising K-actor Lee Jong Won is Shin Mina’s Male Lead in Rom-com Because I Don’t Want to Lose

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 4, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 3, 2023
Man in tuxedo, woman in white shirt.

I thought K-actor Lee Jong Won got his big leading man break already being cast opposite Honey Lee in her upcoming sageuk drama Night Blooming Flower but before that has even aired he’s getting a second A-list drama costar. He’s been cast as Shin Mina‘s leading man in the modern rom-com Because I Don’t Want to Lose from the screenwriter … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jong Won, Shin Mina

Tencent Celebrates Lost You Forever Crossing 33,000 on the Hot Buzz Ranking Becoming a How High Can It Go Hit C-drama

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 3, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 3, 2023
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Some folks may think I’m covering the C-drama adaptation of Lost You Forever a lot (comparatively) but those who read my novel translations know I’m probably not talking about it enough. I have so much to say still but am almost too happy with the drama version I don’t know where to start. The five leads are perfectly cast as … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Deng Wei, Lost You Forever, Tan Jian Ci, Yang Zi, Zhang Wan Yi

Fireworks of My Heart Becomes Lowest Douban Rated High Profile Drama of 2023 Dropping to 3.2 as Pundits Believe Criticism of Leads Yang Yang and Wang Chu Ran will Impact Their Reputation

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 3, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 4, 2023
Man and woman posing in cozy kitchen.

The worst thing with picking a bad drama is always just getting no lift from it but to actually have a negative reputational consequence is fairly rare. The modern romance Fireworks of My Heart wrapped on July 27th the the Douban ratings opened low and has since dropped even lower to an embarrassing 3.2 I glanced at the reviews and … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Fireworks of My Heart, Wang Chu Ran, Wei Da Xun, Yang Yang

Son Woo Hyun Joins Go Ah Sung and Chang Ryul in Risque TVING Sageuk Drama Chunhwa Love Story

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 3, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 2, 2023
Young man in dark clothing against black background.

Okay this is pretty coincidentally funny but also solid casting. The trio of leads for TVING sageuk romance drama Chunhwa Love Story is set with the joining of supporting actor Son Woo Hyun. This reunites him with male lead Chang Ryul as both had breakouts in supporting roles for the drama Gold Spoon. The female lead is Go Ah Sung … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Chunhwa Love Story, Son Woo Hyun

Blackpink’s Jisoo and Ahn Bo Hyun Confirm Relationship After Dispatch Releases Pictures of Their Personal Dates

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 2, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 2, 2023
Woman making finger hearts beside waving man

Thank god it’s so hot outside to immediately remind me that its the middle of summer otherwise I would have checked whether today is January 1. K-tabloid Dispatch woke South Korea up with a bang this this Thursday with the reveal that actor Ahn Bo Hyun and Blackpink superstar singer Jisoo are dating. The tabloid said they would date at … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Ahn Bo Hyun, Dating, Jisoo

ENA has Surprise Hit with Comedic Mother-Daughter Drama Not Others with Jeon Hye Jin and Sooyoung Hitting 3.623% Ratings with Episode 6

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 2, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 2, 2023
Two portraits of a woman in different outfits.

Call this one another unexpected hit for ENA, the small cable network that’s now on the radar thanks to the mega hit Extraordinary Attorney Woo and keeping up a steady pace with that momentum. Currently airing mother-daughter drama Not Others with Jeon Hye Jin and Sooyoung just hit 3.623% ratings in episode 6 which is really high for ENA. The … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jeon Hye Jin, Not Others, Sooyoung

C-netizens Notice Tencent Each Episode of The Longest Promise has been Swapped with Re-edited Versions of Female Lead Ren Min

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 2, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 2, 2023
Two characters under an umbrella, number 27000.

I’m not sure this is necessary at this point but right after The Longest Promise finished airing, C-netizens noticed that each episode was different in running time. Don’t tell me how they know but they were right and turns out Tencent re-uploaded each episode hence the running times were all slightly different. The changes noticed by C-netizens were all on … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Ren Min, The Longest Promise

Success of Yang Zi’s Lost You Forever Adds Fuel to the Rumor of Reshooting The Golden Hairpin with Lin Geng Xin Leading New Male Leads Talking Along with Other Actors

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 1, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 2, 2023
Woman in elegant white dress holding lantern.

So the C-drama adaptation of The Golden Hairpin was a S-level project so there was a shit ton of money already spent on the drama. That it was done and just waiting airing permit with male lead Wu Yi Fan (Kris Wu) was arrested for rape and other myriad allegations meant that a completed project was about to become a … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged The Golden Hairpin, Yang Zi

tvN Mon-Tues Drama My Lovely Liar Kicks Off with 2.589% Ratings and Mixed Reviews

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 1, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 1, 2023
Woman holding a card in vibrant setting.

This Monday was the premiere of My Lovely Liar (Korean title Useless Lies) on tvN with the time slot being lower in ratings compared to the more high profile Sat-Sun drama slot. The first episode got 2.589% which still is lower than its predecessor Delightfully Deceitful got which was 4.551%. The reviews are mixed but nothing too strong either way. … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim So Hyun, Minhyun, My Lovely Girl

Jo Byung Kyu Offered Male Lead in tvN Sageuk Romance Drama Serenade

A Koala's Playground Posted on August 1, 2023 by ockoalaJuly 31, 2023
Young man seated against a textured wall.

Even before Jo Byung Gyu‘s bullying scandal he shot to fame in the ensemble cast of Sky Castle and then the lucky break with The Uncanny Counter. All good for him and he worked hard for it but as a male lead he just never appealed to me, but there are lots of actors and actresses I don’t personally connect … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jo Byung Gyu, Serenade

Wang Chu Ran Endures the Fallout of Playing a Disliked Female Lead Character with a Flat Performance in Fireworks of My Heart

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 31, 2023 by ockoalaAugust 1, 2023
Man and woman posing in cozy kitchen.

Well it’s been a wild July for C-actress Wang Chu Ran. She first stole Ren Min‘s thunder at the beginning of The Longest Promise for being prettier in period garb and overall had more onscreen charisma, though as the drama went along fans just settled into enjoying the story. But she was supposed to have a big female lead breakout … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Fireworks of My Heart, Wang Chu Ran

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  • Elena Underwood on Youku Modern Romance C-drama The Early Spring with Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian Becomes Unexpected Summer Hit and Notches a Respectable 6.7 Douban Ratings
  • Somebody on Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • Paula Johansen on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings
  • ariana on Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
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  • Ulises Whitfield on C-actor Dylan Wang Faces Wild Rumor that He Attempted to Enlarge His Private Part But a Botched Procedure Lead to Erectile Dysfunction
  • Lev on Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • Annette on Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • wapz on Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • Dakchigo on K-ent Industry Insiders Vote on Worst K-drama of 2026 and Royal Romance Drama Perfect Crown with IU and Byun Woo Seok Leading the Ignominious List
  • Dakchigo on K-ent Industry Insiders Vote on Worst K-drama of 2026 and Royal Romance Drama Perfect Crown with IU and Byun Woo Seok Leading the Ignominious List
  • Carla Zhao on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings

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